Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:1–13 NIV

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Matthew 4:1–11 NIV

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

PAUL WAS TEMPTED

I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

21-23 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?

JESUS WAS ALSO TEMPTED BUT NEVER SINNED

Hebrews 4:15–16 NIV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

1. BE READY

Anticipate temptation, it is coming.

Mind, surroundings, feelings.... etc.

It is not a sin to be tempted, and it won’t go away as long as we live.

It is what you do with temptation that matters.

The devil is after you, and if he can’t get you to sin, he will intimidate you with the thought that you might.

Matthew 26:41 NIV

41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

There are seasons in life when you are more tempted.

Tired, fatigued, bored, after a big success, surrounded by certain people. BE READY, anticipate, be ready.

Jesus was tempted right after the Spirit came over him when being baptized.

1 BE READY

Then… after what?

2. BE RESPONSIBLE

Own it!

What for?

Don’t blame the devil, don’t blame other people. Be responsible.

It relates to the Israelites being taken to the wilderness...

We live in a society that blames everyone else for their problems. But the reality is that most of our problems we brought on ourselves.

Tempted… tested...

We just need to accept responsibility.

B LAME

You won’t find freedom until you admit your fault and stop blaming everything else. Some even blame God!

Questions Jesus’ identity.

God wants you to be happy but he wants you to be holy.

Jesus is hungry

Follow truth not your feelings, that’s where true happiness is found.

Making excuses is so OLD.... Adam and Eve?

1 BE READY

2 BE RESPONSIBLE

3. BE BOLD AND PRAY

Ask God for help, he is always available. He will not be surprised, He knows everything about you but he wants you to admit it!

Sometimes we don’t ask for help because we don’t want his help.

Other times we don’t want his method, and other times we feel embarrassed.

But God never gets tired of helping you if you cal upon his name with an honest heart!

Hebrews 4:15–16 NIV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Jesus went through the very same things you and I go through.

And he is the only one that can help us!

We don’t need will power, we need God’s power to overcome temptation.

Call upon HIS NAME! Not a fancy prayer, just call upon his name!

Psalm 91:1 NIV

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

PSalm 9

Psalm 50:15 NIV

15 and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

1 BE READY

2 BE RESPONSIBLE

3 BE BOLD AND PRAY

4. BE ACCOUNTABLE

Admit it to somebody close, a CHRISTIAN!

Someone you trust who will pray for you and with you!

You have to be intentional about this.

TWO WOLVES illustration.

We don’t share our problems because we are insecure.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

We all have the same temptations....

A PREREQUISITE FOR HEALING IS CONFESSION...

James 5:16 NIV

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Before you can be healed you have to confess to others. “To each other”.

What you UNCOVER, God covers. What you COVER, God Uncovers (no protection).

Healing begins with confession.

Believer’s and unbeliever’s problems are the same… humanity!

The difference is a believer has access to a greater power in times of need!

WHEN YOU CONFESS...

-It helps you gain control

-It relieves inner stress

-Support and vulnerability

God gives grace to the humble!

1 BE READY

2 BE RESPONSIBLE

3 BE BOLD AND PRAY

4 BE ACCOUNTABLE

5. BE SMART

Avoid tempting situations.... it is common sense.

If you play with fire?

IT IS NOT HOW FAR CAN I GO BEFORE I SIN, IT IS

How far away can I keep from temptation.

Proverbs 14:16 NIV

16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

Proverb

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…

1 BE READY

2 BE RESPONSIBLE

3 BE BOLD AND PRAY

4 BE ACCOUNTABLE

5 BE SMART

6. BE FILLED

You must make deposits of God’s word in your soul daily.

Otherwise you will not know how to respond when temptation comes.

Opinions won’t deliver you, truth is what will set you free and guide you in the right direction.

Psalm 1:19

Be filled with God’s presence, Be filled with God’s Spirit.

Only JESUS can set you free!

Romans 7:24–25 The Message

24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? 25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

Romans 8:24–25 The Message

24 That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. 25 But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

Romans 8:1–4 NIV

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

1 BE READY

2 BE RESPONSIBLE

3 BE BOLD AND PRAY

4 BE ACCOUNTABLE

5 BE SMART

6 BE FILLED